MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1923, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

IUSTF.ALIAN AND N-Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. JAP EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE. TOKIO, Dec. 15. The Finance Minister informed the Diet that the earthquake damage totalled between seven hundred and a thousand million yen. The Imperial University alone suffered a loss of forty-three million yen. PERSIAN OIL. LONDON. Dee. 15. In view of the rumours of the possilidity of the Government selling its shares in the Anglo-l’ersian Oil Company the Executive Committees of tho Labour Party have requested Mr MacDonald to convey to Mr Baldwin their opinion that the disposal thereof would be contrary to public policy, and, in the present circumstances, would bo i mproper. ADMIRALTY AND SINGAPORE. LONDON, Dec. 14. The Admiralty denies that the Government has decided to abandon the Singapore base project, hut admits it is open for any new Government to reconsider the scheme, lor which L'200.!)()0 has been so far voted. the base abandoned. NEW' YORK. Dec. J 5 At the Loud Club, during a luncheon the Reuter’s correspondent., who was a guest, received news by cablegram of the British Government’s abandonment of the Singapore base. Mr Maekinnon {Australian Commissioner, also there) was informed by .Roauters and lie was greatly interested.

MR .MASSEY’S ADVICE. LONDON, Dec. 14. Mr Massey is spending his last lewdays in England in a whirlwind of inspections. lie visited an engineering works at Wolverhampton where he was warmly received with shrieking whistles hanging hammers and tooting motor horns.

Speaking to the workmen at lunch time, he said that the English Parliament was leading the Empire. When the House of Commons ceased to put the Empire first then God help tho Empire, lie sincerely trusted the result of the ('lections would not he allowed to nullify the work of the Imperial Conference. He was convinced that when the people realised the true position a preferential tariff would he ** adopted. He said that Wolverhampton, which had consistently fostered Dominion trade, was wonderiully progressive, strangely contrasting with tile general depression. He had learned that Briiish manufacturers were determined to capture the Dominions’ motor trade producing for A-bb or less, j motor cars suitable for country roads, and adaptable to all farmers’ requirements. Mr Massey also inspected Smitllfield markets this morning'. JAPAN’S PROBLEM. TDK It). December 14. The Piemier addressed the House in the Diet, and referred to the circumstances under which the Cabinet was formed. He outlined the steps taken by the Imperial Government to afford lelief to the earthquake sufferers, and he spoke feelingly of the gratitude duo 1,.- the entire .Japanese Nation to nations abroad, which hastened to their relief. '1 he Premier urged they organise by exerting increased efforts to

th> the subject of restoration, lie .said to ■ G vernment desired primarily to aid tin- people and coniine expenditure within the limits <;f their resources. In this connection hills would be submitted to a special session, and general matters would he discussed at the opening of the regular session TANGIER’S NEUTRALITY. LONDON. Dec. IT The “Daily Chronicle’s” Paris correspondent says:—Advices from Madrid state that a Spanish plenipotentiary at Paris has been authorised to sign a Tangier agreement, approved by the British anil French, designed to ensure Tangier’s neutrality in nai time, thus ending a twelve veai s

cont ruversy. GOLD IN CANADA. m LONDON, Dee. -T * The Duke of Manchester, on arriving from Canada, said ho went to prosped for gold. He was astonished at what he fmmd. Canada, he says, ha, a gold belt at least twelve hundred miles long, and two hundered miles broad. So far one hundred thousand acres have been plotted out, which means that the field, has only been scratched. He was of the opinion. / that Canada would find it profitable to develop her goldmining, rather than cereal growing. He secured a claim in North Quebec.